Screening save lives is the important message from Bowel Screening Wales during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month.

In Wales, only 50.8 per cent of people returned their bowel screening test kit and the aim of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month this April is to raise awareness of the importance of completing the kit when invited by Bowel Screening Wales.

Hayley Heard, bowel screening programme lead, said: “Men and women aged 60-74 years are invited to take part every two years. The test can be done in your own home and arrives through the post.

“Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in Wales. 1,000 people die from it each year in Wales. However, only just over half the people who are sent a screening kit return it. It is really important as it can detect bowel cancer at an early stage in people with no symptoms, when it is easier to treat and can therefore reduce your risk of dying from bowel cancer.”

A grandfather of seven from Pembroke Dock is supporting the call for people to use their screening kit after he was diagnosed with early stage bowel cancer after returning his test.

Bev Spiers, aged 69, said: “I did the test kit straight away, because of mine and my partner’s experience with loved ones. We’ve both lost lots of close family to cancer, including my wife, and Theresa’s husband. I’ve also lost at least six close friends to cancer, so I was more than aware of catching it early.”

He had previously done the test two years prior, and had a normal result, but this time, the result was different - he needed further investigations.

Bev was diagnosed with early stage bowel cancer, and had an operation to remove the tumour, followed by a course of chemotherapy.

Now busy getting on with his life, Bev, a founder member of Pembroke Dock Men’s Shed, wants to encourage other people to do the free test and said: “Think of the people around you - your family and friends. It’s not you missing them, it’s them missing you. Think of what they could lose.”

For more information go to www.bowelscreening.wales.nhs.uk